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Referring to the 2013 attack, a spokeswoman for the animal welfare organisation said: "It's extremely unusual for foxes to attack young children or anyone.

"It's not typical fox behaviour at all. Foxes will come closer to a house if there are food sources.

"Then they can become quite bold, but they usually do back off and run away when there's people around."

How to stop foxes entering your garden

Remove access to potential food supplies

Provide food for wild birds in feeders that are less likely to spill, preventing foxes from scavenging.

Protect fruit and vegetable crops – use fencing or solid weld-mesh; avoid using netting and use at least a 4cm mesh to reduce the risk of wildlife getting tangled or caught in it.

Clear away any windfall fruit.

Use securely sealed dustbins and composters.

Keep pets such as rabbits indoors overnight, or in secure enclosures.

These enclosures should have a roof and use weld-mesh instead of chicken wire for fencing.

The door should be secured with a good lock that cannot be worked loose.

Clear up any spilt pet food on the ground.

Remove places of shelter

Cut or clear any areas of long grass or dense vegetation – dense cover can provide a safe, sheltered location for a fox to lie up undisturbed during the day.

Keep garage, greenhouse and shed doors closed.

Prevent access to areas under sheds, as these provide an ideal location for digging an earth to raise cubs.

Deter foxes from your garden

Put up fencing or plant prickly plants around the garden.

Use an animal repellent approved for use with foxes. Repellent products are widely available from garden centres or hardware stores.

Take care to read the label and carefully follow the instructions, as each product is prepared and approved for use against certain animals in the specified way.

It is illegal to use any substance to deter foxes that has not been approved for such use.

What is the risk to children?

Foxes are wary of people and would normally run away to avoid adults and children.

They will learn to trust people who are not causing them harm and may appear quite bold – but this is unlikely to be a sign of aggression. It’s important that people do not try to hand-feed foxes or make them tame, as this may encourage foxes to approach people who may not like them and take action against them.

It is possible for people and pets to get mange from foxes and dogs, but the risk from foxes is very low, as direct contact is the most likely source of infection.

Another disease risk is from the roundworm (Toxocara canis) found in dog, cat and fox droppings, which can cause toxocariasis in children.

Remove any faeces and use a repellent to reduce the risk of these animals fouling in your garden – but the risk of children picking up this parasite from fox droppings appears to be extremely low.

If you have any concern about these and any other potential health risks from animals, contact your doctor.

Further advice on humane fox deterrence can be found at www.foxproject.org.uk.